Leavell, Gilberta Offutt

Gilberta Offutt Leavell, 91, of Cedar Rapids, died Monday, April 2, 2012, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, April 6, at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour before services Friday at the church. Brosh Chapel in Cedar Rapids is handling arrangements.

Gilberta was born March 29, 1921, in Mystic, Iowa, the daughter of Gilbert and Marjorie Gedson Offutt. She was raised by her grandmother, Addie Gedson and uncle Gilbert Gedson. She was baptized at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church at the age of 11. She attended Harrison and Roosevelt School in Cedar Rapids. She graduated from Washington Park High School in Racine, Wis. She later attended Racine Vocational School. Later on she attended Iowa City Commercial College, University of Iowa after which she worked from the Main Library of the University and the Interlibrary Loan as a secretary and assistant librarian.

She moved to Davenport in 1973 to see her father. He passed away in 1976. After his passing, she worked at Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids, as an executive secretary for 15 engineers in Davenport. She retired in 1983.

Gilberta is survived by one son, Lenard of Springville, Ill.; sisters, Catherine Harris and Marie Offutt; brother, Gilbert Offutt Jr. all of Davenport; and a very special niece, Sharon Flowers Smith of Milwaukee.

She was loved by her very special friends, James and Paulette Clark, Thomas and Lillie Moore, Landy Waller, Canetana Hodges and her Pastor, Damian Epps.

She was preceded in death by two husbands, George W. Vanarsdale Jr. and Verdell Leavell; and a special companion of 34 years, James G. Duffy.

We want to extend our heart felt thanks to Mercy Hospital fourth floor, the eight floor nurses and the Hospice Home nurses. We couldn't have asked for a better, helpful and caring team. Gilberta loved music and they made it available to her day and night and she would sing along with it. Her 91st birthday was made such a special one to remember. We appreciate all they did to keep her smiling. Thank you all for that!

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at .

Published in The Gazette April 4, 2012.